~alf layla wa layla~

Writer's Block: First Aid

2009-06-28T13:36:54Z

Have you ever performed CPR, mouth-to-mouth resuscitation, or the Heimleich maneuver on someone in an emergency?

Yes. Also, it's the Heimlich maneuver.

ViVid 02

2009-06-28T06:08:49Z

Now I think that this artist's work is like an inferior version of Fujieda Miyabi's. :\

-the process of how Vivio became Nanoha's daughter
(Fate: *tears up* I was the one who told her... ;^;)

-turning adult-sized <> Kaiserification
Seriously? The previous chapter was really misleading...purpose-wise, all ikka can say is that she's her mother's daughter indeed.

-"So I heard that mamas were like me(ry
The legend of the amazingly incredible 9-year-olds seems to be a staple that has to be brought up ever since they stopped being, well, 9.

-a vow, complete with pinky swear
OI, WHY DO THESE TWO LOOK LIKE THEY'RE CHALLENGING EACH OTHER TO A FIGHT *snerrrrk*

-after upsizing, Vivio is taller
Ga-rei chapter 42, the MSLN doujin 右眼と左眼に映る景色...
If it wasn't for these two things, I would have been significantly less touched. Just sayin'.

-hotpot time at the Nakajimas'
Eh, they're eating remarkably little. Compare with this. The later refill kinda explains it, but heh.
"That was a long time ago already." Genya is becoming more and more senile...j/k
WHY DOES CINQUE-NEE HAVE ARTHUR KIRKLAND EYEBROWS?!
Deredere Subaru is cute.
...this family practically treats Church HQ as a playground-slash-hangout spot, lol.

-cliffhanger
This picture says all I had to.

Happy birthday, Hayate-san~

2009-06-04T09:23:01Z

This is, surprisingly, the first time ikka has drawn so many characters in one image. But the focus is on the brown one the middle, really.

My excuse for the "interesting" proportions and relative heights is that this was intended to come out cutesy-looking anyway.

It's times like this...

2009-06-01T16:11:20Z

I suspect this has been covered already by certain bloggers, but am too lazy and uninitiated to check. Anyway, this falls within ikka's scope of interest, so 's all good. However, this post is probably not too interesting if you don't follow K-ON or care about headphones, lol.

The AKG K701, a model that's more high-end than your average (both price-wise and, according to reviews I've read, performance-wise), has recently garnered more attention after it was shown to be used by Mio in K-ON episode 5. According to one Taiwanese blogger who wrote about this, its sales ranking on price comparison site kakaku.com astonishingly rose from 41 to 6. Whoa.
...as to be expected, the price has also rose accordingly. Akiba shops have also been spotted promoting it with the Mio connection, calling it 澪ヘッドフィン (Mio Headphone) K701, as this image shows.

This phenomenon has found its way to gigazine, among other news-oriented (?) sites.

Admittedly, I've never had the chance to actually use the K701 - for one thing, it costs about $600 or so in SGD. The specs and manufacturing details are appealing, though. But this piece of news was pretty interesting, not to mention funny. Who's with me in saying that some of the people who bought it wouldn't know the difference in quality between the K701 and a more lower-end pair of cans?

Spot-the-pattern

2009-05-27T15:37:49Z

Fujino and Yuuki
As some (many? idk) already know, ikka goes for this more than Yuuki and Kuga - never saw the appeal of, or was interested in, the latter. I admit to having completely no inkling as to why there are so many people who like/ship that. It probably stemmed from Kuga comparing Yuuki and herself. My point of view, roughly speaking, is like this - if Fujino could fall in love with Kuga, what's stopping her from being attracted to someone that's a lot like the one she loves?

"Are you an idiot? Love, attraction, affection...the only person you can trust is yourself!"

But not Viola and Zhang, because that takes far more mental acrobatics, despite the fact that they look exactly the same as their AU counterparts. aslkdljf

Reiri and Riza
Yeah, the natural enemies thing. Who was it that first came up with that idea? I don't know why I like this vampire-werewolf pair so much as compared to the 9387524 others out there. Maybe it has to do with how ikka is also a Riza fan. And volume 4, oh volume 4. I think I started seeing the possibility of these two together from then on. There are plenty of moments scattered here and there that can be used to construct a subtext-filled argument as well.

"Would you believe it? I've been banished from vampire society because of you, Riza."

Kaguya and Mokou
In ikka's mind, this works out more as Kaguya→Mokou, lol. Forgot who it was that brought up a point I agree with totally - Mokou stands out because she sees Kaguya as Kaguya, rather than a pretty object to be claimed (as in the suitors who'd wanted her hand in marriage in Taketori Monogatari) or a princess (as in...basically the whole of Eientei?) - Muffin-san, iirc? That also explains why NEET-hime would even step out of her manor just to provoke and fight somebody that she can never kill. Note, of course, that the opposite also applies, and Mokou has obsessed about a grudge that, as many fans have pointed out, should have been gotten over long ago. My interpretation of Cage in Lunatic Runagate 4 is that Kaguya had been her raison d'être for over a millennium already...how else would she even have made it?

"For the first three hundred years, other people hated me, and I was a sad creature who only caused trouble to myself and those around me if I didn't stay in hiding.

The next three hundred years I spent harboring a grudge against this world, and was able to preserve the faintest sense of identity by immediately dispatching anything that crossed my path, youkai or otherwise.

For the next three hundred years the youkai in the area couldn't hold my interest anymore, and I lost all motivation towards anything, living out a boring existence.

But during the next three hundred years, I was finally reunited with my immortal archrival, and we discovered the joys of killing each other over and over."

Negima chapter 252

2009-05-27T13:50:50Z

Either scanlations aren't out yet, or no one has uploaded them to where I usually read mine. Either way, this chapter is remarkable because it actually has Konoka and Setsuna following through with that intended Pactio mentioned...how many chapters ago? Shippers everywhere must be screaming and clutching their noses in bliss.

(thank you Finestela-san for uploading the raw chapter)

Definitely the most canon support for this pair yet, it's already crossed the line from subtext into overtext IMO. Sure, the anime gave us moments like Secchan nosebleeding at being flashed (iirc) in one opening sequence, among other notable instances, but ikka saw them more as lulzy moments than anything too serious. Acknowledging that Akamatsu had a certain degree of say in what was written, and that there were staff members, including Kobayashi-gahaku and Aipon who professed their liking these two as a couple, that is. It still is nice to have scenes like this to cement their closeness.

Ah, a translation can be found here, for anyone interested.

人生無望

2009-05-25T16:00:00Z

I WANT A LIFESTYLE LIKE THIS.

On an unrelated note, Hime Yuzuriha appears to be making its way into canon (if those 660 henshin pictures are for real). Guess someone on the MSLN staff roll decided to take a leaf from ZUN's book or something.

Neither is this a doujin review: Sweetest Love (Mahou Shoujo Lyrical Nanoha)

2009-05-13T11:55:08Z

Hint: the cover is a lie. To some extent. This does not refer to the rating, or the pairing.

Doujin info:
Circle/artist: くりころ。/tokoharu; homepage
Fandom: Mahou Shoujo Lyrical Nanoha
Size: B5 offset, 28 pages
Available from toranoana.jp etc at 1155 yen (inclusive of tax)

ikka's scribbles:
I tried with much difficulty to write a summary like last time, and finally gave up out of embarrassment. NSFW is still far too challenging for someone like ikka. Reading/viewing is always a lot easier. Anyway, there are definitely folks who will scan(late) it for the masses, how else would I have come across it?

...ahhh, okay, it's painfully sweet, the protagonists are adorable and the plot is easy to understand. Enough?

Kurikoro. is a circle that seems to be less well-known compared to bigger names like this and this. ikka has no doubt that the MSLN fandom knows of these guys, or have come across/saved their pictures before. If it wasn't for Sweetest Love, I might not have known about this circle's existence. That doesn't mean they (...or rather tokoharu?) are lacking in quality, though. The art isn't particularly striking, but it's easy on the eyes in that the lines are clean and the paneling is done nicely, so following the scenes is effortless. Still, there is one gripe that bugs me, which is the inconsistent use of screentones for Nanoha's hair - it's done in some places and left out in others, so that can be jarring when one is expecting it but gets un-brunette Nanoha. On the whole, that inconsistency detracts from otherwise good art. IMO it's even better than Hina Sasaki's (of SEA STAR), because her (...I think it's a her) art sometimes scares me with the gigantic eyes and very shoujo style...I like shoujo when it's not done with too much anatomical inaccuracy. ^^;

Moving on to the content before going too far off tangent, it's...For Adult Only. Which doesn't refer to violence but sex...gahhh, if you've seen the cover before reading this, you already know that. Even if you hadn't, the NSFW warnings should have told you!

So. Is the content good? Yes. It's not entirely porn without plot, even if they do get down to it quite quickly. Admittedly, this is not a long story, so I find that understandable. Plus it was cute (the link is SFW)...before the serious touching and slightly dramatic moment came in, at least. During the first read through, ikka actually was reminded of a Chinese fanfic that came before this (but can't remember the title or where it was ;^;), which was very similar in some ways. How so? The creators both explored the Fate/Nanoha relationship similarly in the plot, I suppose. Please be reminded that this doujin does has something like that. I claim so, because unlike certain works that jump straight into or have little/poor excuses for characters to have sex, here, there's more of a "natural progression" feel. There's quite a bit of buildup to it, so even though one comes to expect it, there's not much wtf to go round at the lines (which were cheekiness on Fate's part anyway) before the actual sex comes in. I suppose I should also add that the depiction is very soft and gentle - no futa, no weird objects, no raepface, no crazy things like that - just a sense of tenderness.

And...that's about it. I'm still waiting for a translated version, but that's not exactly a must because, like previously mentioned, it's not very hard to understand. There's also a lingering sense of awe because the person who put it up made a great sacrifice in scanning this...the spine must have been weeping in agony when she pressed on it. :O

Edit: 7 hours after this was first posted, Sweetest Love was translated! *saves*

[MSLN] No more "mahou shoujo", eh

2009-04-30T13:47:24Z

Was reading dimon-san's blog and saw this post on the upcoming Mahou Senki(ry. The protagonist this time is Tohma, a mysterious girl encountered within the depths of ruins...if I'd read the text correctly?

The part about how Hayate doesn't look like a tanuki anymore (literally, "Tanuki doesn't look like Tanuki anymore (because everyone looks so alike)") made me laugh, then worry for the quality of this sequel OTL
But hey, human-sized Rein-chan gets a thumbs-up. Since she wasn't 30cm in the group shot for Sound Stage Vocal Best Collection either, maybe Hayate's magic rose to such a high level that she'd be able to maintain that form? *headscratch*

Because ikka is rather proud of these

2009-04-10T12:39:26Z

Have some Chiba icons over at exhikki .

This is one of those ~~(I sure hope not the only)~~ times where the icon-ing process was so easy. I completed coloring over 10 icons in the space of an afternoon, inclusive of distractions. Sure, part of the preparatory work was done earlier on, but I hadn't expected this to be finished so fast...

I will...do a post about Yankee-kun to Megane-chan someday. Perhaps. Don't think of this as a promise.

OMFG IT'S SHISHOU!!!one1one11eleven

2009-03-18T15:55:35Z

The PV for the Nanoha movie was shown at the Tokyo International Anime Fair, and someone put it up here.

Looks as though there's a big chance that the novel's plot would be incorporated somehow. I certainly hope so, if only to get the people complaining about ~~the Testarossas~~ Precia-kaasan being a flat villian to rethink. And because there's LINITH-SHISHOU, YOU SAW THAT TOO RIGHT MOMMY? I MEAN, SHE'S ONLY LIKE THE REASON WHY THE FANS HAVE THE AWESOMENESS OF BARDICHE. SINCE SHE'S WIN AND ALL THAT.

</capslock> (heh, haven't had spazzing like that in a while)

By the way, the Gundamization of MSLN can be seen in the movie preview too. ^^; Is it stupid for the first thing to pop into ikka's mind at the bit with the traffic crossing to be the Kannazuki no Miko epilogue? |||OTL

Even though, even though, even though

2009-03-15T15:47:18Z

Even though they boosted your age by 6 (3?) years with the recent announcement

Even though I suspect the only reason F is being drawn is to remove the possibility of Mizuhashi-san talking to herself, ~~thereby making it legit for you to commit bestiality~~ or rather, the other way round

Even though hardly anyone in the English-medium fandom knows about this

Even though the day is almost over ~~and is already over in Japan~~

Happy birthday, Nanoha-san! \o/

Nanoha season 4?!

2009-03-06T13:14:55Z

Not much news yet aside from a small announcement, but it's something to look forward to I guess. Wrote a little bit on it over here.

Can't help but wonder just how the legacy of the Gundam in a ~~girl's~~ woman's body is going to be extended. By the way, were there still hopes out there that they would actually go into the lost years of A's to StrikerS? I had instead been wondering if there would be something about Mahou Shoujo Vivio, or even a story where X woke up, if there were to be a fourth season...hmm.

~~Weddingweddingweddingweddingwedding(ry~~

On the use of CPR in "popular media"

2009-03-03T15:17:16Z

It should not be that much of a surprise for anyone reading this, if I were to say that a lot of depictions regarding the use of CPR on TV and in movies (especially Hollywood) are inaccurate...to different degrees, admittedly. But seeing it done properly is a huge rarity, and that isn't just because ikka doesn't like watching TV. I'm exposed to the idiot box on a daily basis due to the presence of TV addict/s in the household.

One common use of this is the "Kiss of Life" thing in which Person A does something (usually not very intelligent) in an attempt to get a "kiss" from Person B (usually the love interest). Outcomes are usually one of the following:
1) A not getting CPR done on him/her by B, but some other person, who might also be repulsive-looking/have bad breath/is another love interest
2) B performing CPR on A, where it is handled as if it is equivalent to a real kiss (which, as anyone who's done it before will say, is as far from the truth as you can get)
3) A's attempt gets him/her in trouble or danger, due to the circumstances that would cause him/her to need CPR in the first place.

Off the top of my head, the only instance of CPR being done properly I can recall is in Lost...because the person performing it was a doctor. And yet, a lot of shows/movies that focus on doctors/medicine seem to prefer showing the *GREAT DRAMA!*, *POWER STRUGGLES!* and what-have-you, instead of doing just that smidgen of research to not make people that know what's going on cringe horribly. Non-medical characters who can be expected to have relevant skills fall prey to it as well - even 007's CPR in a recent movie wasn't performed properly. Isn't it sad?

It occurs in animation as well. Watches of Mai HiME might recall Mai's "CPR" on Mikoto at the start of the series, or the rather...unsavory (?) idea that popped into Nina's head during the tentacle monster episode in Mai Otome. I'm pretty sure Western animation brings it in too, but have limited knowledge in that field. TV Tropes has a Code Lyoko instance on it, but don't expect me to have seen that show in the past, present or future ☆

There are many how-tos on the Web with regard to the correct way in which one goes about performing CPR, which may have slight differences but generally will involve the use of removing any possible blocks to the airway; head-tilt-chin-lift; rescue breathing and chest compressions. These are also the areas in which I have seen CPR being done wrongly: the casualty may still have water/liquid in their mouth, the head has been tilted too far back or not enough, rescue breaths are too long/short/spaced inaccurately, and my biggest personal peeve: incorrect chest compressions due to not "locking" the elbows or "pressing" on the chest with the hands' strength alone, rather than accurate positioning of the upper body.

Of course, one might look at this from a producer's point of view. The fact remains that there is a sizable part of audiences who have not undergone CPR training before, and that most people would get the idea that CPR is going on when the "appropriate" visual cues are provided. As such, the actors doing "CPR" (note the quotation marks) need not have the necessary skills to actually perform it onscreen, and the people in charge of artwork do not have to draw it to absolute accuracy if they don't know exactly what to depict. Of course, there's also the extra costs incurred if the actor would have to go for CPR training or if extra footage/animation would be needed, especially if the whole process (which can be much longer than usually depicted) is shown. Factor in the suspension of disbelief that goes into watching any fictional show, and you have a situation in which correct CPR isn't always needed.

Nevertheless, ikka can't help but wonder if there might be a lower mortality rate for the big and small screens if the characters involved actually knew just what they were doing (though they might be thought of as such, but that's another story). Has there actually been any instance in which a character fails to save a casualty because he/she lacked the appropriate skills? The only one that comes close, in my limited knowledge, is the Spielberg film Empire of the Sun...and even for that, also not quite.

DarkCurtis 4-koma: Madame President's Worrisome Prospects (part 1 of 2)

2009-03-01T08:33:54Z

Or more literally, "Madame President, you've got prospects to worry about!"

A song most unrecommended while you see this would be Kajiura Yuki's Materialize. lol

Well, this isn't all that new, but...

2009-02-01T12:09:40Z

Found this thing today and thought, why not try it out. The basic idea is to use a sorting algorithm that gives you a choice between 2 characters. Choosing either of them; or 引き分け (draw); or どっちも知らない (don't know either), will give a new choice. This is repeated until you get "100% sorted". There are similar choicemakers for other fandoms and one for seiyuu that I've seen.

So here goes ikka's Sorting Order for HCB, the top few were more or less expected. How Wanko ended up so near the bottom is a mystery, though...I think she's adorable.

SEMPAI~~IKKA <3 YOU~~xD

順位 [rank] / 名前 [name]

1 上条槙 Kamijou Maki
2 久我順 Kuga Jun
3 静馬夕歩 Shizuma Yuuho
4 神門玲 Mikado Akira
5 朱炎雪 Ju Ensuu
6 黒鉄はやて Kurogane Hayate
7 猿楽未知 Sagara Michi
8 宮本静久 Miyamoto Shizuku
9 染谷ゆかり Someya Yukari
10 天地ひつぎ Amachi Hitsugi
11 雉宮乙葉 Kijimiya Otoha
12 無道綾那 Mudou Ayana
13 士道美沙子（シド） Shidou "Sid" Misako
14 吉備桃香 Kibi Momoka
15 黒鉄ナギ Kurogane Nagi
16 星河紅愛 Hoshikawa Kurea
17 祈紗枝 Inori Sae
18 鬼吏谷桜花 Kiriya Ouka
19 市原さん (the Amachi housekeeper)
20 斗南柊（ナンシー）Tonami "Nancy" Shuu
21 黒鉄流麗 Kurogane Nagare (the twins' dad/mom)
21 辻 (...dunno)
21 加護 (...dunno)
21 帯刀洸 Tatewaki Hikaru
25 月島みのり Tsukishima Minori
26 宝田りおな Takarada Riona
27 放送部のお姉さん the Broadcasting Onee-chan
28 紅蜂清子 Benibachi Kiyoko (the...clerk lady)
29 久我のお父さん Kuga no Otou-san (Jun's father)
29 現国教師 the current Language teacher (not sure, I think she's the one from the time the bell rang during lessons)
31 ひつぎの父 Hitsugi's father
31 静馬のお母さん Shizuma no Okaa-san (Yuuho's mother)
33 単行本折り返しのジャッジ the recurring judge from the tankoubon
34 武器屋 Buki-ya (the weapons modifier)
34 美術部副部長 Art Club Vice-president
34 吉川司 Kikkawa Tsukasa (A-team)
34 布袋朋 Hotei Tomo (A-team)
34 みき Miki (the kid that got kidnapped during the school festival)
34 氷室瞑子 Himuro Meiko
34 細木カヅ子 (the World History teacher)
34 雑魚その２ small fry #2
34 貴水蒼 Takami Sou
34 瓜生愛（ナースキャプテン）Nurse Captain (where'd that name come from? Volume 9?)
34 ドナ Dona (the...cow/bull)
45 小竹莉菜（ジャッジリーダー） Judge Leader (see Nurse Captain)
46 ちはるさん Chiharu-san
47 スマイリーファイナンス社長 Smiley Finance boss (pretty sure this is Mizuchi's mother)
48 相田 (Suzuki's partner)
48 増田恵 Masuda "Masurao" Kei
48 稲葉響子 (...teaching staff...I think)
48 シャバ蔵 Shabazou (the guy Hayate kicked in volume 1)
48 雑魚その１ small fry #1
48 浅倉みずち Asakura Mizuchi
54 犬神五十鈴 Inugami Isuzu
55 鈴木園絵 Suzuki Sonoe (the idiot Hayate and Ayana pwned in Volume 1)
55 根本美鶴代 Nemoto Mitsuyo (masurao's partner)
55 松本美香 (...dunno)
58 神門玲一 Mikado Ryouichi (Inorin's fiance)

Oh yeah, find it here.

When RPing cuts into RL: an anecdote

2009-01-25T15:50:59Z

Went out yesterday, and had a pretty nice lunch. Due to my bad habit of not bringing tissues or handkerchiefs along most of the time, coupled with being something of a stickler for hygiene (well...in only some cases), I decided to head over to a nearby fast food place to use the washroom for cleaning up.

Upon entry, the first thing that registered was one middle-aged lady, who appeared to be a member of the (cleaning?) staff. From the look of it, she was someone that one had to use "excuse me" towards when reaching for the soap dispenser, rather than just allowing you to sidle over by moving away for you to pass...note that this washroom in question has, as far as ikka can recall, always been incredibly cramped to the extent of having more than 3 people waiting in line being the equivalent of a need to open the door for space.

Only after a few moments did she tell me that she'd thought I was in the wrong toilet because of the hairstyle and dressing. What could one do in this situation, but attempt to smile and get out asap - made difficult by there being 2 other people choking up the area?

tl;dr: WTF AUNTIE, JUST BECAUSE IKKA PLAYS ERICA HARTMANN DOESN'T MEAN YOU SHOULD MISTAKE HER AS MALE SO EASILY.

OK, so I'm a bit lacking in the overall figure department, but this is the first time since puberty that something like this has happened... )'^´(

01212009

2009-01-20T14:17:21Z

I wonder if it's a little late for new year resolutions...and if it isn't, ikka will start doing something about remembering the birthdays of people important to her, like the squad; family and etc OTZ

Rather by accident, a celebratory (?) message on a certain forum reminded me that tomorrow, 21 January, is Mizuki Nana's birthday. I only remembered the date as being the official street release date for her next single...so darned fail, no?

Umm, yeah, so happy birthday, Curator/Head/77-chan(ry :DDD?

Onto the Shin Ai single, it's already been leaked for a few days. The A-side was, once again, nothing too special the first time round, but increasingly appealing after playing it a few more times. It's now on constant play on ikka's portable and not-so-portable devices, certainly. PV was...worth it just for the harp-playing imo, though its minimalist direction is obvious (no really, the theme was "simplicity"). But HARP FTW. And the fairy/angel costume.

More show-relevant stuff was up on the anican blog, plus a nice dude(ette?) also did a translation of the details revealed on Smile Gang (not sure which episode, can't find now). Apparently Shin Ai was supposed to have a 80s-esque vibe to it, since WHITE ALBUM was set during 1986. The lyrics were written from the point of view of Morikawa Yuki, the main character. The booklet seems to have been really tedious to make too...

Hayate Cross Blade character class list (as of volume 8)

2009-01-09T17:34:28Z

For reference purposes. I plan on making another list for how the characters address each other, but that will take quite a bit of time.

Will be updated when ikka gets her hands on volume 9.

Junior high classes are labeled "jh" followed by class, same applies for senior high but with "sh".

Junior high:

jh1A
-Sagara Michi

jh1C
-Kurogane Hayate
-Kibi Momoka

jh1D
-Inugami Isuzu
-Kijimiya Otoha

jh2A
-Takami Sou

jh2B
-Kiriya Ouka

jh2F
-Takarada Riona

jh3A
-Asakura Mizuchi

jh3B
-Shizuma Yuuho
-Masuda "Masurao" Kei

jh3C
-Someya Yukari

jh3E
-Nemoto Mitsuyo (masurao's partner)

jh3G
-Mudou Ayana
-Kuga Jun

Senior high

Class unknown
-Amachi Hitsugi (second-year)

sh1A
-Miyamoto Shizuku

sh1B
-Hoshikawa Kurea
-Kikkawa Tsukasa (A-team)
-Hotei Tomo (A-team)

sh1C
-Tonami "Nancy" Shuu

sh1D
-Mikado Akira
-Inori Sae

sh1E
-Kamijou Maki

sh1F
-Tsukishima Minori

sh1G
-Shidou "Sid" Misako

sh2E
-Ju Ensuu [Zhu Yanxue]
-Himuro Meiko

[MSLN] Fanart: Schism feat. FTH

2008-12-28T06:29:25Z

...and it's done.

This was actually promised to Eagle-san way back last year, at the end of August/start of September. Between then and now, a lot of things happened, and I think even she forgot about it _/=/o;;

Image shrunk under the cut, it's a present so there's no signature. For your own safety (?) and to avoid distress (that would...be mostly mine), please do not try dangerous things such as zooming in too much. Selectively ignoring the bad coloring is recommended.

Lyrics from the abingdon boys school single HOWLING. Based on the fanfic Ode To Darkness and other related work by Eagle8819 (eagle8819)

"The word Schism (IPA: /ˈsɪzəm/ or /ˈskɪzəm/), from the Greek σχίσμα, skhísma (from σχίζω, skhízō, "to tear, to split"), means a split or a division, usually in an organization or a movement. A schismatic is a person who creates or incites schism in an organization or who is a member of a splinter group. The word is most frequently and usefully used about a religious division that occur with a religious body with a defined organisation and hierarchy...More generally, especially outside of religion the word schism may refer to the separation/split between two or more people, be it brothers, friends, lovers, etc. or any division of a formerly united from the state movement in politics or any other field into two or more disagreeing groups." -Wikipedia

Taking aside 4-5 months for exams, overseas trips, and stuff like that, this piece still took nearly a year to complete. The first draft was actually completed in pencil somewhere within the same week this was promised, but was thrown out later...sometime this year, if memory serves.

Here's a sketchy recollection of what took place:

More tools and skill improvisation
ikka started out with very few relevant skills and using chiefly only PhotoStudio for just about everything. After reading up on and using the techniques from various GIMP tutorials, there was much (or at least quite a bit) of leveling up. lol...I was impressed with how some people did things faster, more efficiently, or just a lot cooler. And the thing was, they were nice enough to let others (ie. myself) learn how to do it like them. It was very useful as a learning experience.

Last/this? month, I chanced upon a drawing tablet while in China. IT WAS A BARGAIN, EXCEPT I DID NOT NEED TO BARGAIN. Hahah. After checking it out online, ikka saw this ad by a local retailer that was selling it at roughly the equivalent price - during a promotion period. x))) Could have sworn I told the lady I wanted the larger model, though...|||OTZ It was very useful...some parts of the lineart were added through tablet, see if you can find them. And it came with more drawing programs (yay)...those were used in conjunction with the 2 abovementioned.

Settings, scenario and other funky business like that
The first draft had Fate in her StrikerS barrier jacket, with the old mantle (because only Nanoha-san can make white look like such a terrifying color. Truefax). For the lineart that was eventually used, a lot more...uh..."customization" can be seen: A's-era Sonic Form, the old cape (different color, but actually just the grayscale counterpart), as well as the Riot Blade.

This was in part due to my interpretation of Eagle-san's settings. Some numbers: the StrikerS-era look was from at least as early as when they were 15, but not until after 1 year or so from the start of the Book of Darkness incident (between June and the end of December, the same year as season 1 - given how long Fate's trial took, the Wolkenritter were probably on trial for half a year or so). Given how the protagonists were...on a different path from the TSAB during the fic's time period, it was not impossible for Fate to have reached the new stage of Sonic Form. Yet, using the StrikerS barrier jacket could be a liability as it would draw attention...at least, I've always thought it was too generically uniform-like.

New knowledge (?)
ikka once read how a bride threw a tantrum after having to decide from over 200 shades of white for her wedding dress. Coloring this image made me understand why...I never knew it was possible to use so many shades of black/gray in one picture...!

I hope I didn't miss out anything important...

這是何等蠢事...!

2008-12-26T11:04:38Z

Hope this Christmas was nice, my family doesn't celebrate the occasion but I did phone an aunt (who does) for well-wishes.

Been having weird dreams for 2 nights/early mornings straight. If it happens tonight again...aughhhh...|||orz

For those who'd care to know,

-the first night: fantasy RPG-ish setting (ikka hasn't touched RPGs in a very long time! At least long enough to not warrant this!); got a hole pierced (?...something like it) into my lower back by some deity type...the wound wouldn't heal until we (ikka's party?) did a sorta rite thingy and the deity fixed it up. WHAT FREAKED ME OUT WAS THAT MY BACK WAS THROBBING WHEN I WOKE UP AROUND THE PART WHERE IT WAS STABBED. =_=;;; Fell back asleep, but the dream went on...can't remember much of the rest.
-second night: not much recollection. There was war somewhere in it. Woke up feeling like crap.

...there were no lottery numbers in the dreams. What a waste.

Went looking for a couple of simfiles and tested them out. And I messed up during DISCOTHEQUE due to distraction from the background, which was playing the PV. Dangit, Nana-chan, why you sparkle so?! ^^; After playing Stepmania for so long, ikka finally understood why some people don't play with moving backgrounds *headdesk*

Next post should have something less...rubbishy OTL But awfully belated, too.

[music edit] ALI PROJECT (Takarano Arika w/band) & Mizuki Nana@Animelo 2007: Seishoujo Ryouiki

2008-12-21T17:06:18Z

Exactly what the title says. No joke.

I have a lossless version if anybody's interested, but it's almost 50MB (the track itself is a little more than 4 1/2 minutes), which kills bandwidth and would be very troublesome to upload. So it won't be put up unless requested for.

This version was created using audio ripped from the anisama DVD mixed with the Seishoujo Ryouiki track on alipro's Soubikakei album. Originally intended to use the off-vocal version from the single, but found out that it had strains of Arika-san's voice in it (as backing vocals).

If there were anyone trying to find out exactly which parts were edited, a look at the waveform (I think that's what they call it anyway) tells a lot. More than I'd like to divulge, actually, but amateurs can't be choosers. *sigh*

Side note: the 5 opening notes were cut down to decreased frequency of repetition. In short, the "dum dum dum dum duuum" <-wtf isn't repeated as many times as it had been during the live. I reckon they did it for stage effect anyway >_>

Side story: after trying unsuccessfully to upload this on imeem, ikka got better results from Deezer. At least it didn't stall. Sadly, it still took a lot of time, effort, and anguish before the upload was completed successfully...I must have tried nearly 30 times (or more)...for the most part, this was attempted using Opera, where the second-most completion was achieved. Subsequent attempts, however, never did match up, and in the end, the upload completed in FX3 (when previous tries mostly failed somewhere around the one-eighth mark) instead. VIVA FIREFOX. *sprinkles pink hearts*

So, it's been 4 years...

2008-12-19T14:55:52Z

My, how time flies when ~~we're~~ ikka's not noticing...according to Wikipedia, Mai HiME first aired in late 2004.

Unlike the majority of fans (that I've encountered, anyway), ikka's first contact with MH was made not with the significantly-awesomer-by-many-degrees anime but the manga. And it wasn't even Volume 1, if anyone was interested. I still remember putting it down and thinking, "OK, it's not too bad...maybe I'll go check out the other volumes..."

On hindsight, it was probably the art and tolerance for harem themes that gave rise to such a completely ludicrous thought, which goes to show how people can, indeed, wisen with the passing of time. Acknowledging the presence of greatly superior material being made available, that is. And even before watching the anime, ikka had fallen for manga-Shizuru's charm, diluted as it had been, which might speak volumes in itself.

Just realized that like how some people have cultivated the practice of watching Kannazuki no Miko every October, every December 19 from the time I learnt of the date's significance has met some show of...proclamation? (<-is this word suitable?) on my part. Sadly, all there is this year is this vaguely nostalgic post. Is this some kind of franchise fatigue? I hope not.

Happy birthday, Shizuru. This makes you...22 now, or has the brain failed me again? It seems to do that quite a lot when it comes to you. And I'm sorry for posting this only when the day's almost over.

P.S. purple streamers for the occasion y/y?

Lyric translation: Trickster by Mizuki Nana

2008-12-01T20:55:17Z

I had a copy of Zankou no Gaia's lyrics on the desktop before it died (again -_-;) and couldn't bother to make a new one. Maybe some other time...Trickster is one of Nana's songs that is getting constant replay on ikka's portable, and the video is quite a few shades of awesome, too. Still wondering why I didn't get into it during the first few spins.

~~Today~~ yesterday was great, found this shop with some CDs that might not be so easily available back home. FictionJunction YUUKA's circus (first press) was selling at 20RMB...! It sort of makes up for the horrible temperatures (ikka is a tropical animal).

Disclaimer: This translation is fanmade and Ikka does not claim that it is 100% accurate, but it is a product of much hard work and time. Please do not use without permission, though linking is OK.

Mizuki Nana: Trickster
Vocals/lyrics by Mizuki Nana
Composed/arranged by Agematsu Noriyasu

君が「大好きだよ」っていつも無邪気な声で笑うから Because you always say "I adore you" with such an innocent laugh
僕の我が儘な感情 -時計- はほら、動き始める Look, my egoistic timepiece (emotions) has started to change
壊れた玩具並べ　自分の理想の城作って Lining up broken toys; I built my ideal castle
誰もが求める幸せに心奪われていた Fascinated by the happiness that anyone would seek

「大丈夫」と鍵をかけて隠してた Saying "it's alright", I locked up and hid away
たくさんの本音 -言葉- たち　さあ、解き放ってみよう That many words (ulterior motives); so come, release them all

君の紡ぐ物語　僕に教えてよ Tell me the tale that you have spun
それは、どの神話 -星- よりも美しく光る It is more beautiful and bright than any star (legend)
たとえ現在が過去に塗り替えられたとしても If we were to repaint the past right now
あの日から続く夢のもっと先へ The dream that had continued from that day goes further
迷わず記すよ　僕だけのSCENARIO Don't hesitate and make note of my own scenario

君が「平気だから」っていつも真っ直ぐに見つめるから Because you always say "I don't mind" while looking straight ahead
僕は知らずにいた本当の気持ちに気付けたんだ I became aware of true feelings that I had not known of

「変わらないものなんて、何一つないから」と Saying "because not one thing stays never-changing"
信じるという行為 -こと- にも　諦める癖がついてた Even that thing (act) called belief had been given up out of habit

渇いた空　モーブの霧に包まれていく The thirsting sky has been engulfed in a mauve mist
遥か遠く君の歌が聴こえてたんだ I yearn to hear your song, so far away and distant
答えのない頁だらけだっていいから As it's alright despite the pages being covered with no answers
ひそか僕の中芽生えてたQUESTに In this quest where a secret is budding within myself
高らかに叫ぶ　怖いものはない！と I cry out loud: there is nothing I fear!

不意に襲う孤独はね So, an unexpected assault of loneliness
Level upへのsignalだから Is thus a signal to level up

僕の紡ぐ物語　君に伝えたい I want to tell you a tale I have spun
それは、終わりなき神話 -星- の愛 -いのち- の始まり It is the start of an unending star (legend)'s life (love)

Notes:

1) Any ideas what the title and lyrics have to do with each other? I vaguely recall Nana-chan mentioning it in one interview, but the details are a mess...

2) Words in (brackets) are those of the "written" lyrics. The sung lyrics are used in the main translation.

3) The lack of personal pronoun means that some parts can work the other way as well...but for flow, this was mostly set in a first-person point of view.

4) Not particularly pleased that there is no reference for verifying the translation, it's most probably buggy. And was done under semi-consciousness and lack of sleep alternating, so do take with a pinch of salt and give corrections if you spot anything to change OTZ

Lyric translation: Wahrheit by Yousei Teikoku

2008-11-13T20:20:08Z

I always thought that I would have more alipro translations than for Yousei Teikoku...but then again, trying to (re)create the Takarano Literary Effect is rather difficult. This translation has the odd honor (?) of having ikka go over it multiple times and wondering if it really is supposed to be as, um..."easy" as it seemed.

PV accompaniment is highly recommended. It can be found here.

Disclaimer: This translation is fanmade and Ikka does not claim that it is 100% accurate, but it is a product of much hard work and time. Please do not use without permission, though linking is OK.

Yousei Teikoku: Wahrheit
Vocals/lyrics by YUI
Composed and arranged by Tachibana Takaha

古の台座には御霊が宿るという It is said that a spirit dwells within the ancient pedestal
置き去りのEine Krone響く When the abandoned Eine Krone sounds
罪の数ほど美しく It shall be as beautiful as the amount of sins

右手で空に掲げた　嘘で満たした聖杯 Emptiness lifted by a/my right hand; a Holy Grail filled with lies
彩る夜を捉えて　罪を欺く死の蜜 Seizing the painted night; the nectar of death that cheated sin

血塗られた月は操られて Manipulating a bloodstained moon
飲み干した嘘に支配される Drinking up, lies are controlled

命の価値を死で計るなら If the value of life were measured via death
誇らしく微笑み逝けるでしょう Then let us pass on with proud smiles

最期の楔で　我らに光を At that keystone to final moments, we are light

羽のように撒き散らした罪が The sins scattered like feathers
雫となって降り注いで Rain down incessantly as waterdrops
誇り高く廃した躰ごと Each prideful deposed body
総てを包んで　御霊を連れて逝け Is completely enveloped; and passes away with the spirit

躰の奥に仕込んだ　過去を贖う戒め Educated deep into one's body are admonishments to atone for the past
真実の答え探して　刻を朱色に染めて Searching for a true answer; time is dyed scarlet

錆び付いた鍵に惑わされて The key that has rusted with it perplexes
抉じ開けた刻は睡ったまま Still [someone] remains asleep when [something is] prised open

誓いの言霊を叫ぶなら Were the word-spirits of vows to cry out
凍て付いた扉も解けるでしょう Would the frozen gates melt as well?

最期の楔で　我らに光を At that keystone to final moments, we are light

鳥のように舞い踊る御霊よ O spirit who dances like a bird
光となって降り注いで Rain down as light
誇り高く廃した躰ごと Each prideful deposed body
総てを包んで　魂呼び祈り唄 Is completely enveloped; souls crying out songs of prayer

やがて時はゆき　唄を忘れ去る頃 There is bound to be a time when the songs are completely forgotten
碧の台座の上で　砕け散ってゆくでしょう I suppose they would then be smashed to pieces atop the green pedestal

羽のように撒き散らしたEine Krone The Eine Krone that has scattered like feathers
雫となって降り注いで Rains down incessantly as waterdrops
誇り高く廃した躰ごと Each prideful deposed body
総てを包んで　御霊よ還り咲け Is completely enveloped; o spirit, return and bloom

Notes:

1) Both Wahrheit and Eine Krone are German. Having no actual useful knowledge of the language, ikka cannot give a confident translation of these terms, though the song title has been said to mean "truth" and she is pretty sure "krone" has an English equivalent of "crown". Help will be most appreciated.

2) 真実 was used with the pronunciation for 本当, but since both terms have roughly similar meanings, there is no alternative translation up there.

3) As always, all corrections and comments are most welcome.